Collective efforts must to tackle governance challenges at primary education

Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr Afsarul Ameen, MP emphasised on collective efforts to tackle governance challenges at primary education. He made this appeal as the Chief Guest at the closing ceremony of a consultation meeting on ‘Challenges of Governance at Primary Education and the Way Forward’ organised by the TIB on 4 September at BIAM auditorium, Dhaka. Ms Dipu Roy, Programe Manager, Research and Policy, TIB presented the findings of a a study at the consultation. Advocate Sultana Kamal, Chairperson, TIB Board of Trustees presided over the event.

Talking about resource limitations of his ministry, the minister said that only 0.91 % of GDP was allocated for primary education. Vacant positions of teachers, discriminatory salary structure of teachers were among other major limitations. He added that despite these limitations, his ministry and the government were working hard to improve the overall quality of primary education by increasing the supply of modern education materials for students and by providing various motivations including financial incentives. In her speech, the Chair stressed to immediately address governance and corruption challenges at primary education. She added that establishing accountability was a pre-condition to achieve expected results in primary education.

Around 130 participants including representatives from 45 CCCs, district and upazila education officers, teachers and representatives of the School Management Committees (SMC) participated the consultation. The consultation ended by recommending a number measures of which increased ratio of teachers and student (1:30); elimination of political and elite group’s influence on teachers recruitment and placement; development of a promotion policy; immediate recruitment against vacant positions, ensure quality education materials as per needs; and introduction of primary education cadre service were major.